Symphony Notes A publication of the Livermore-Amador Symphony and Guild Vol.52, No.2, February 2015 THE LIVERMORE-AMADOR SYMPHONY Arthur P. Barnes, Music Director Emeritus Presents Young Love Lara Webber, Music Director & Conductor Saturday, February 21, 2015, at 8:00 p.m. BANKHEAD THEATER, 2400 First Street, Livermore Livermore Performing Arts Center Prelude talk 7:00 – 7:30 p.m. Lara Webber Doors open no earlier than 6:45 p.m. Overture to The Barber of Seville Gioachino Rossini Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Opus 16 (1st movement) Sergei Prokofiev Vincent Liu, soloist Clair de lune (arr. Arthur Luck) Claude Debussy ~~~~Intermission~~~~ Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Opus 30 (Finale) Sergei Rachmaninoff Misha Galant, soloist Romeo and Juliet Fantasy–Overture Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky TICKET INFORMATION Tickets are available at the Bankhead ticket office. Contributions to the Symphony may also be given at the ticket office. In Person: Bankhead Theater Ticket Office, 2400 First Street, Livermore Tuesday through Friday, Noon to 6 p.m; Saturday 3–6 p.m. Website: www.bankheadtheater.org Phone: 925-373-6800 Make checks payable to LVPAC. Linda Tinney, ♫♬ From our Denise Leddon, LAS Guild Presidents ♬♫ LAS Association Happy New Year, everyone! I think I must say Wasn’t that a wonderful December concert? this every year, but where did the year go? The Thank you to our new music director Lara Webber older I get the shorter the years seem. and all our musicians! Our hard work paid off— we were delighted to play to a sold-out audience! We have three fabulous concerts ahead of us. The I asked photographer Walt Davies to capture us February 21st concert will feature two extremely during the performance—look for our candid talented young musicians. You won’t want to symphony photos on Facebook! You don’t need to miss it. The Guild will host refreshments in the be a member of Facebook to see them, but please lobby following the program. Please join us as we do register and “like” us when you get a chance. meet, greet, and congratulate these outstanding You expose all your friends to us when you do. young performers. Social media, i.e. Facebook, is an important and inexpensive marketing tool today. The Guild is planning several events to celebrate the “The Red Violin” concert in May. See page 3 Great things are happening behind the scenes! for a preview, and watch for further details soon. LAS and the other resident companies of the You just might have an opportunity to experience Bankhead are meeting with the Livermore this very famous violin “up close and personal!” Performing Arts Center’s new executive director Scott Kenison, along with new and continuing The Guild is always looking for enthusiastic LVPAC staff members, to develop ideas that will volunteers to help in all we do. To learn more make our Bankhead and Bothwell performing arts about joining our ranks, please contact our centers ever so much better. membership chair, Linda Miller at 925-443-7398. We are now busy rehearsing the February concert A HUGE thank you to the Guild members and music—it will be a lively performance. As I watch especially the Guild Board for their tireless efforts Lara conduct, it is obvious she enjoys the music in supporting the Symphony. and is having a good time. So are we! The music is great; don’t miss it! See you there! Linda Tinney, LAS Guild President Denise Leddon, LAS Association President Attention Kathy Boster, who plays clarinet in ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Facebook the Symphony and co-directs our Notice to Concert Ticket Holders. Users! youth orchestra, also manages our Facebook presence. Check us out! Can’t use your concert tickets? ® Call the Bankhead Ticket Office (925-373-6800) up Editor’s note: Kathy does a great job keeping our Facebook to 1 hour before the concert to release your seats. up-to-the minute. Her “downbeat 9 hours away” post noting You will be mailed a tax donation receipt. 44 seats left no doubt helped our December concert sell out! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Symphony Notes is published four times a year for members of the Livermore-Amador Symphony is a member of Livermore Livermore-Amador Symphony Association, Orchestra, and Guild. Cultural Arts Council (LCAC), which encourages “cross- Symphony Association President Denise Leddon; Guild President Linda Tinney; Editor Marcia Stimatz Elchesen. promotion” among the arts groups. Check out their PO Box 1049, Livermore, CA 94551-1049. 925-373-6824. calendar: http://independentnews.com/event_calendar/ Website: www.livermoreamadorsymphony.org Symphony Notes February 2015 Website Edition Page 2 Highlights of Upcoming Concerts ♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ February 21 Concert May 16 Concert Featured Soloists “Beethoven and the Red Violin” Winners of the 42nd Annual Featured Soloist Competition for Young Musicians Elizabeth Pitcairn, violin Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major Vincent Liu, piano Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, ♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ Opus 16 (1st movement) Don’t miss out on these additional special Sophomore, Dougherty Valley High School, San Ramon fun fundraising events planned by the Parents – Jian Liu and Bettie Geng Symphony Guild as part of the May Concert Misha Galant, piano festivities. Mark your calendar now and stay Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, tuned for details about ticketing! Opus 30 (Finale) Junior, California High School, San Ramon ♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ Parents – Jed Galant and Olya Katsman Screening of the film The Red Violin Bios of Vincent and Misha are on page 5. This story was inspired by the history of the 1721 Mendelssohn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Red Violin, crafted by Antonio Stradivari. Ms. Pitcairn will perform on this very instrument at the concert and soiree. The film opens in 1681 with the making of the violin and an important tarot card In the Bankhead Lobby: reading. Forward to 1997 and a high stakes auction in Canada. Mystery! Intrigue! Support the Symphony with other LAS friends by enjoying an evening of fun at the Vine and Zephyr’s in Intermission Performance downtown Livermore. Element 116 Jazz Band Thursday, May 7, 2015, 7:00 PM Read the scoop about this kids jazz band Vine Cinema in your February concert program! 1722 First St., Livermore Immediately followed by a ~Following the Concert~ Dessert and Wine Buffet Cookies and Punch Reception Zephyr Grill and Bar 1736 First St. (next door to the Vine) ♪ May 2014 LAS concert recordings ♪ will be available for purchase. Cost: $10 movie only DVD - $20 ♪ CD - $15 ♪ Both - $30 $50: movie and buffet Watch for details! ♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ Annie Wu, flute Our soloist, Annie Wu, is a Musical Soiree with Elizabeth Pitcairn April 11 2014 Foothill High School Friday evening, May 15, 2015 graduate and a Presidential Cost: $85 Concert Scholar in the Arts. She is “Fantastic Flute” now studying at Harvard This event will be held in a private home and Devienne’s University and the New feature a solo performance by Ms. Pitcairn as Flute Concerto England Conservatory of well as a festive hors d’oeuvres buffet. Additional No. 7 in E Minor Music in Boston. details to be announced. Symphony Notes February 2015 Website Edition Page 3 ♪♫ YOUTH - The Future of Classical Music! ♫♪ Supporting youth music education has been an important commitment for the Symphony throughout its history. This issue of Symphony Notes features three of our youth programs: The annual Competition for Young Musicians, the Education Awards, and Fiddle Club. Our Livermore-Amador Symphony Youth Orchestra (LASYO) completed its 6th season in August 2014 and was featured in the December 2014 issue. In addition to these programs, some high school musicians are regular LAS orchestra players and receive mentoring from experienced LAS players. We are also working with our music director Lara Webber to develop opportunities for children and their parents to attend some of our concert dress rehearsals. COMPETITION FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS The annual competition is open to vocalists and instrumentalists through grade 12. The winners perform as soloists at a Symphony concert and receive a monetary award (currently $500). See page 5 to read about our 2014–2015 winners, pianists Misha Galant and Vincent Liu, who will Fiddle Club 2015 perform at the February concert. In addition, three other competition participants are selected to Fiddle Club is currently in session at Jackson perform at the Winter Guild Meeting. Students Avenue Elementary School in Livermore! This is chosen this year were April Chen (piano), Min Su the third year of Fiddle Club, a program aimed at Kim (clarinet), and Alex Chen (piano). See article introducing 5th graders to playing the violin. LAS on page 6. More information about the players and LASA Board members Beth Wilson competition is also available on the LAS website. and Jutta Massoud introduced the program at a 5th Thanks to JoAnn Cox, Competition Chair. grade assembly in December 2014. Although 32 students wanted to join, only the first 2014–2015 Student Award Winners 22 children to sign up could be accommodated. th Presented at December 6 Concert The sessions run each Thursday 3:00–3:45 p.m., The Symphony Association administers four awards January 8 through February 26. Jutta Massoud is (currently $400 each) to recognize high school seniors teaching the group again, this year with assistance who have made significant contributions to school and from her teenage daughter Anya. The students are community musical activities. This season, the awards given the instrument, shoulder rest, and the violin went to these four outstanding students. Their lesson book with practice CD for the two-month biographies appeared in the December concert program duration of Fiddle Club. and are also available on the LAS website Youth Awards page. As part of the program, the young fiddlers are also Arthur P.